Early Morning Snack Shop.0

With just one sentence, Ji Chunyue revealed her true identity as a woman. Despite her flushed face, she didn't run away.0

"Where can I find the franchise notice?" she asked.0

Her twin sister, Ji Qiuyue, was also surprised. But glancing at the table, where the youtiao (fried dough sticks) meant for three had been devoured by her sister alone, she began to understand.0

"Yuan, go buy two more servings of youtiao," Ji Qiuyue whispered. "We'll take them to go."0

"So you're actually young ladies," Zheng Qiru exclaimed, his face reddening in shock.0

"What's wrong with being young ladies? Are we eating your rice or something?" Little Yuan rolled her eyes at him.0

"No, no, not at all," Zheng Qiru stammered, suddenly at a loss. Being unattractive and adhering to strict gender separation as a scholar, he rarely spoke to young women, let alone scolding or making bets with them in public.0

Now feeling somewhat uneasy, he quickly handed the flyer to Ji Chunyue.0

"You can sign up at the magistrate's office. Leave your address and wait for the assessment notice."0

"There's an assessment too?" Ji Chunyue had been about to back out, but the mention of an exam piqued her interest.0

She and her sister had studied in Chu State and believed they were no less capable than men.0

If the imperial examinations weren't restricted to men, the sisters were sure they could have earned official titles.0

So, at the mention of an exam, both Ji Chunyue and Ji Qiuyue's eyes lit up.0

After scanning the notice, the sisters exchanged glances, a hint of intrigue in their expressions.0

"Let's go, we're done here," they said.0

"Hey..." Zheng Qiru wanted to call after them for clarification, but his face flushed, and he held back.0

"What does this mean? Are they going to join the franchise?"0

"I thought those handsome young men looked too pretty. Turns out they're actually girls."0

"They must be wealthy if they're ready to invest 500 taels to open a youtiao shop."0

"Can they make money? Won't their family scold them for wasting silver?"0

The farmers and locals in the shop couldn't help but discuss after the sisters left.0

As soon as they exited, the Ji sisters hurried away with their maid. "Yuan, come on, let's go to the magistrate's office to register."0

"What? Young ladies, are you serious?" Yuan held two youtiao in her hands, not having taken a single bite.0

She had planned to eat after her mistresses finished, but now the sisters were rushing off so quickly.0

It was as if the youtiao shop would bite them.0

"Yuan, you don't understand. This is called seizing the initiative," Ji Qiuyue said with a smile, her eyes curved like a crescent moon. "The notice doesn't specify that applicants must be men."0

In Chu State, women needed to be accompanied by family members—parents or husbands—to open a shop, and unmarried women were excluded entirely.0

"But in Jing Country, they just opened this youtiao and milk tea shop yesterday, and today they're already rushing out franchise regulations," the elder sister Ji Chunyue said with a clever smile. "It's clear that this franchise policy hasn't been thoroughly thought out. It's not as airtight or strictly regulated as usual laws."0

"We need to exploit the loopholes."0

"For instance, opening a franchise as women."0

The Ji sisters exchanged smiles, their eyes shining like stars.0

Five hundred taels meant nothing to them.0

They had more than enough from the New Year's money their grandfather gave them, with no real use for it.0

But what if they could own their own shop?0

Not as a dowry for marriage, not as property dependent on a man.0

But something they could manage themselves, where every penny earned would be their own.0

Just the thought made the Ji sisters' hearts burn with excitement.0

"Let's go, Yuan! While the lower officials in Jing Country are still figuring out how to assess qualifications for the franchise, let's hurry! The first batch is always the most lenient!"0

[Wow, the Ji sisters are so clever.]0

Xiao Chuchu lay in her exclusive "swimming pool" in Changchun Palace—actually her bathtub—while Zhang Jia massaged her little hands. She watched the broadcast of the sisters' adventure and couldn't help but applaud their intelligence.0

[As the saying goes, be the first to eat crabs. They're truly perceptive.]0

Xiao Chuchu blew away a soap bubble floating towards her.0

Liu Chaniang stood beside her, wiping her face with a handkerchief.0

As she wiped, she silently pricked up her ears, taking note of her daughter's words about the importance of being a pioneer.0

[Hehe, they've seen through Jiang Li's chaotic situation in the Ministry of Revenue.]0

Xiao Chuchu chuckled.0

[Yesterday, when Father Emperor carried me to the youtiao shop, we only got to taste air. It left my old man craving... He came back and told Jiang Li that they need people with restaurant experience to manage and open branches of this milk tea and breakfast shop.]0

[Father Emperor made Jiang Li find people to manage and open branches overnight.]0

[Jiang Li spent the whole night in the study without sleep, nearly going bald, before coming up with this 'franchise' method.]0

[But he was too hasty and didn't think it through completely. Currently, the franchise applicant screening rules have big loopholes, just as the Chu State sisters suspected.]0

[Including the franchise fee, which might be too cheap.]0

As Xiao Chuchu thought about this, Liu Chaniang's expression became strange as she looked towards the screen.0

Behind the screen stood Xiao Yunzhou. He had insisted on coming in to wait for his daughter to finish bathing.0

In fact, he had been listening to the "sisters' adventure" broadcast and couldn't wait to hear what happened next.0

But now, as his daughter criticized the situation, Liu Chaniang clearly saw Xiao Yunzhou's feet stiffen behind the screen, not daring to move.0

[Do the franchisees have business experience? Proof of assets? Any debts? Are they likely to operate honestly? Should they pay a deposit? How much deposit would be enough to compensate customers for physical and psychological damages if the quality of the imperial milk tea shop is compromised?]0

[The Ministry of Revenue hasn't considered any of this.]0

Xiao Chuchu rattled off in her mind.0

[It's not entirely Uncle Jiang Li's fault. He hasn't studied the Consumer Protection Act or the Food Safety Law. He doesn't know how important a food operator's integrity is.]0

[He doesn't know that food safety issues can lead to compensation claims that could shut down a milk tea shop!]0

Liu Chaniang's hand paused.0

[We can't choose our first batch of franchisees carelessly.]0

Xiao Chuchu enjoyed her bath while her mind wandered freely.0

[We also need to establish a system for the Ministry of Revenue and local officials to conduct regular food safety inspections of the branches.]0

[Ah, the people in the Ministry of Revenue still lack training. They need to use their brains more.]0

"!"0

Behind the screen, Xiao Yunzhou's eyes widened.0

He realized he had been too careless.0

His Majesty, the supreme ruler, had acted rashly. Yesterday, upon hearing his daughter's mention of joining the alliance, he hastily ordered the Ministry of Revenue to draft regulations.0

He hadn't even thought it through himself. Ah!0

His daughter was right!0

As the supreme ruler, he needed to use his brain!0

No, where were the brains of the Ministry of Revenue!?0

Xiao Yunzhou coughed lightly, his face flushed with embarrassment.0

*0

The next day, the Ji sisters went again to the government office where they had registered to join the alliance, inquiring about when the qualification assessment would take place.0

"Ji Qiuyue, Ji Chunyue?"0

"Yes, that's us."0

"Hmm, you'll need to wait two days," the office clerk glanced at them. "According to the imperial edict, the first round of assessments will be conducted jointly by the Minister of Revenue and the Imperial Kitchen."0

"Also, if..." the clerk looked at them again, "since you're women, Consort Liu will also be present to interview you."0

The Ji sisters were momentarily stunned.0

Yuan, their maid, couldn't help but step forward. "Why? Your public notice didn't mention an extra interview for women."0

The office clerk rolled his eyes on the spot. "How am I supposed to know the intentions of those above?"0

"But currently, in our entire Jing Country, Consort Liu is the only woman in an official position."0

"If you don't want to meet her, then sign here. I'll have to report it to the higher-ups!" the clerk said impatiently.0

The Ji sisters, who had originally felt dejected about their idea of opening a shop as women and unable to exploit loopholes in the assessment, were now lost in thought.0

"What did you say!?"0

"Women in your Jing Country can also hold official positions?" Ji Chunyue and Ji Qiuyue's pretty faces were filled with shock.0